Blumenauer Joins Secretary Clinton to Deliver Remarks on World Water Day

Sunday, 21 March 2010 19:00

Washington, DC – Today Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore), author of the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, joined Secretary Clinton, Under Secretary Maria Otero, the artist Kenna, and other activists and advocates to deliver World Water Day remarks at the National Geographic Museum. Secretary Clinton addressed Congressman Blumenauer’s leadership in making the global water crisis a priority for Congress, and pledged the administration’s support in working on this issue.

Secretary of State Clinton and Congressman Blumenauer delivering remarks at World Water Day 2010.

Photos Courtesy of Thomas Brown

The following are remarks as delivered by Rep. Blumenauer:

I am honored to join the hardest working and most committed water advocates on World Water Day 2010. We all know the magnitude of this problem – one-sixth of the world’s population, almost a billion people, do not have access to safe drinking water.

Many of us have witnessed firsthand the impacts of this ongoing tragedy – from the United States, to Mozambique where my daughter served in the Peaces Corps, to Haiti, which I recently visited with Speaker Pelosi after that devastating earthquake.

We also know that every dollar we invest in clean water yields a return of $8 to $36, and also puts us further down the path to eradicating extreme poverty and preventable illnesses.

Despite the occasional partisan difference we have here in Washington, this critical issue should remain above the fray. In 2005, I worked to pass the “Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act” with the Republican Foreign Affairs Chairman and the Minority and Majority Leaders in the Senate. Today this law provides millions of people every year with access to clean, safe water for the very first time.

Secretary Clinton and Under Secretary Otero, who I am honored to be here with today, are overseeing this important program. I am working to make sure Water for the Poor gets the funding it needs to be successful. Last year we secured more than $300 million, and with the support of many of the NGOs here, I am working to increase that number to $500 million for next year.

After the failures of the previous administration, I am dedicated to empowering the State Department and USAID to meet this global crisis head-on. In 2009 I introduced the “Water for the World Act” with Senator Durbin as its champion in the Senate. This bill would give government the necessary tools to provide 100 million people with first-time access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

It appears the Senate is preparing to act first by passing this bill out of Committee. With your support, we can make sure the House acts just as decisively. With today’s announcements by Secretary Clinton and Under Secretary Otero, and the renewed commitment of the Executive Branch, this is a very exciting time for those of us dedicated to clean water.

I look forward to a partnership that unites Congress, the administration, and the thousands of individuals who work every day to help provide safe water and sanitation to those who need it most.